Kei aku nui kei, aku rahi ngā Māreikura, ngā Whatukura. Nau mai, piki mai, kake mai, i runga i te kaupapa o te ra. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging: Tā Pita Sharples, 2024 Icon Award Whakamana Hiranga recipient, and Te Rangimarie Sharples; Chelsea Winstanley, Co-Chair of The Arts Foundation; Kent Gardner, Outgoing Co-Chair, and Hamish Edgar, Incoming Co-Chair; Jessica Palalagi, General Manager, The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi. And to all our very distinguished guests – tēnā koutou katoa.
As Governor-General, and patron of The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi, I’m delighted to welcome you all to Government House for this very special event – to celebrate our two newest Whakamana Hiranga Icons, and this year’s recipient of the Harriet Friedlander Residency.
I know that, in this instance, the word ‘icon’ is not used lightly – and that our two newest icons have truly earned that mantle: not only through their dedication to their respective crafts over so many years, but also the generosity with which they have shared their work with New Zealand, and with the world.
Tā Pita Sharples – your extraordinary career has straddled the worlds of academia, politics, Māori development, and the arts. The thread that connects these worlds has been your staunch commitment to representing, celebrating, and empowering te ao Māori.
I certainly remember your spearheading of kapa haka, the Hoani Waititi Marae, kohanga reo, and kura kaupapa in West Auckland during my formative years, and the early years of my children. To them, you will always be Matua Pita.
Tonight, we acknowledge in particular your artistic contributions – as a pioneer in the development of the kura kaupapa movement, the New Zealand School of Māori Weaponry, and the acclaimed Te Roopu Manutaki Māori cultural group – of which I was a member for a time.
As you yourself said, so perfectly: ‘If you don’t dream, you’re not alive.’ Thank you Tā Pita, for dreaming with such ambition, generosity, and brilliance – and for enriching our country in the process.
I know that Neil Finn is unable to be here this evening, but it will be a pleasure to have Jemaine Clement accept Neil’s award on his behalf.
Neil’s music is indelibly etched into the New Zealand consciousness – most notably, perhaps, through his contributions to Split Enz and Crowded House. I’m sure I was not alone, however, in feeling immense pride when Neil was chosen to join Fleetwood Mac.
Neil’s music has provided the soundtrack to New Zealand life for so many years – capturing something distinctively, joyfully, lovingly ‘us’. Neil understands the profound and mysterious power of music – and has dedicated his life to harnessing that power to remarkable effect.
I think few would argue with Ed O’Brien’s estimation of Neil as popular music’s ‘most prolific writer of great songs’. He and his brother Tim have left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape.
This evening, we also recognise this year’s recipient of the Harriet Friedlander Residency: Ayesha Green. Your paintings of extraordinary vision and boldness represent a remarkable talent – already mature in its concerns and ambitious in its scope.
I hope this residency will offer you the opportunity to further deepen and expand your artistic practice, and I will look forward to following your artistic journey with great pride and interest.
I wish finally to acknowledge the Arts Foundation, and its supporters, for all that you do to nurture the arts in Aotearoa. Through your commitment and generosity, you enable our creative practitioners to work at their craft, and to share their work with the world – and, through events such as this, you recognise those artists’ outstanding achievements.
We live in increasingly uncertain times, and it is through art that we receive the profound comfort of knowing we’re not alone; a reminder of the too-often-neglected truth of how much we share.
The whakataukī says: ‘Mā te pohewa mā te auaha hoki, ka whakapuaki ngā kura e huna ana. With imagination and creativity, a hidden jewel can be revealed.’
To Tā Pita, Neil, and Ayesha – my very warmest congratulations once again. Thank you for helping us to see ourselves more clearly as a nation, and for the hidden jewels you have revealed, and continue to reveal to us all through your wonderful work.
Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.